Handheld, antiviral, gripping device for the purpose of avoiding skin contact with surfaces.

ABSTRACT

A hand protection device that is multi-purpose and protects hands from touching surfaces. A hand-held, flexible, hollow, tube-type apparatus composed of an antiviral material, both on the hand-held gripper and its carrying case with a cushioned middle layer composed of antimicrobial foam. The carrying case has a hollow inner storage chamber to store accessories such as but not limited to, a metal key and sanitizing wipes. This hand protecting, clutching and/or gripping device has multiple uses and purposes which includes, but are not limited to, holding onto or grabbing onto metro-poles, subway-poles, bus-poles, handrails, grocery carts, grocery baskets and similar, door handles, and other objects that have been designed for public use.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention is a hygienic, hand-held, hollow, tube-type apparatus with a carrying case and accessories within the inner storage chamber of the device. This invention has multiple uses and purposes to protect the hand from surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Any surface can easily spread germs and be a source of cross contamination. Countless surfaces are touched by hundreds if not thousands of people a day. These surfaces include but are not limited to the subway, metro and bus poles, handrails, grocery carts, grocery baskets, door handles, luggage, and other public objects. Commuters pack into train cars grabbing on to any pole that has space in order to stay balanced while riding. Handrails are used at all public staircases. Luggage is handled by several people at airports, bus and train stations. Shopping carts and baskets pass between dozens of people every day. This begins the spread of germs and deadly viruses. Wearing gloves is neither a sustainable or convenient solution especially when considering how often people are commuting, shopping, opening doors, and traveling.

My solution (invention) is a flexible pole gripping apparatus with an antiviral-copper outer layer and carrying case (FIG. 4). This device was created to protect bare hands from making contact with objects and surfaces that are designed to be touched (FIG. 5). The hand protecting, gripper device (FIG. 1) is wielded for the purpose of holding on to, grabbing onto metro, bus, train poles, handrails, grocery carts and baskets, luggage, door handles of buildings and vehicles and other objects and/or surfaces people touch, hold on to, push and/or pull. The pole gripper wraps around the carrying case that has been designed to store a variety of tools (FIG. 3). These tools include, but are not limited to, a key-type function and sanitizing wipes for the purpose of pushing, pressing, and sanitizing. The case (FIG. 2) has a small ring that can be attached to any clip in order to attach to a bag, belt loop, or similar. When not in use the gripper is wrapped around the carrying case for storage to protect the exposed surface (FIG. 2). The device is a cylindrical shape that the hand holds and molds around. It is also slightly hourglass-shape with features for finger placement including but not limited to; ridges, loops, and hooks for finger gripping. The dimensions are roughly 155 mm in length and 95 mm diameter. The device can close with a clean seam or have a slight gap. This solution is better than gloves that far too often cross contaminate and have to be washed or disposed of.

The device is made of a bistable mechanism, or similar, with three layers of different materials. The contact layer that wraps around a cylindrical surface and/or other like-item is made of a non-skid silicone, rubber, TPE's, or like-material. This contact layer can be 3D printed or injection molded with silicone and flexible copper lining. The interior layer is made of an antimicrobial silicone mesh or foam material such as but not limited to; thermoplastic rubber, polyurethane or viscoelastic. The outer layer or shell is made up of silicone and a copper infused flexible fabric, or similar; a material that is naturally antiviral. The case is manufactured using silicone, copper or similar exterior. The inside key can be made of brass, copper, or similar metal (FIG. 3).

SUMMARY

Current options of gloves, straphangers, wrist guards, hooks and the like, do not provide a non-wearable hygienic protection for your hands that can be antiviral using copper or similar materials. This solution provides a hygienic, sustainable option to prevent hands from coming into contact with surfaces when commuting, traveling and shopping. The gripper protects the user's hand from coming into direct contact with any surface that needs to be touched, grabbed, held, pushed, and/or pulled.

DRAWING DESCRIPTION

The described embodiments and the advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These drawings in no way limit any changes in form and detail that may be made to the described embodiments by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the described embodiments.

FIG. 1: Inside and outside flat view with finger hooks.

FIG. 2: Gripper case with gripper wrapped around the case.

FIG. 3: Inside chamber with key and storage.

FIG. 4: Section cut view of the case and gripper.

FIG. 5: Use of Gripper in hand and around a cylindrical surface 

The invention claimed is a hand protection device and carrying case with inner storage chamber:
 1. A flexible, hand-protecting device and external carrying case that is a multi-purpose, multi-layer, hand-held, hygienic and/or antiviral, hollow, tube-type, gripping and/or clutching device with finger grips at either end of the clutch-gripper for easy release and gripping and/or clutching wielded for protecting the hand from touching surfaces;
 2. The hand protection device according to claim 1, wherein said device is made of multiple layers, specifically, three layers comprised of different materials;
 3. The hand protection device according to claim 1, wherein said a copper material with antiviral properties, or similar, comprises the outer layer of the gripping device and carrying case;
 4. The hand protection device according to claim 1, wherein said an antimicrobial foam layer comprises the middle layer of the device;
 5. The hand protection device according to claim 1, wherein said the exposed layer possesses an inherent non-slip characteristic; silicone material or similar. Said layer clutches around the copper layer of the carrying case to contain said exposed layer;
 6. The hand protection device according to claim 1, wherein said combined layers make a composite material. Whereas, advanced composite manufacturing would be used to wield said device;
 7. The hand protection device according to claim 1, wherein said a flexible, bistable mechanism that is generally C-shaped when hand-held to substantially conform to a user's palm. Having a flat state and a curved state. The curved state of the flexible substrate is suitable for clutching to a cylindrical surface. The flat state is substantially a flat outer surface shape;
 8. The hand protection device according to claim 1, wherein said the finger grips at opposite ends of the device to easily release and clutch around cylindrical surfaces;
 9. The hand protection device according to claim 1, wherein said a hollow, tube-type shape comprised to store accessories and tools;
 10. The hand protection device according to claim 1, wherein said providing a barrier between the hand and any cylindrical or similar surface;
 11. The hand protection device according to claim 1, wherein said a tube-type device fits in hand and around cylindrical surfaces;
 12. The hand protection device according to claim 1, wherein said the gripper-clutch is comprised for the use of grabbing onto, holding onto and/or gripping onto cylindrical surfaces;
 13. Antiviral carrying case with external top clip and internal storage chamber comprised of storing various tools;
 14. The carrying case of claim 13, wherein said outer layer of the case is comprised of copper material with natural antiviral properties;
 15. The carrying case of claim 13, wherein said case consists of an internal storage chamber;
 16. The carrying case of claim 13, wherein said the internal storage is wielded to store various tools such as but not limited to, a metal key and sanitizing wipes to touch surfaces, offering additional hand protection;
 17. The carrying case of claim 13, wherein said the internal key is wielded for the use of touching, pressing, and/or pushing;
 18. The carrying case of claim 13, wherein said storage includes various tools such as, sanitizing wipes for hygienic purposes;
 19. The carrying case of claim 13, wherein said carrying case stores the gripper-clutch on the exterior of the case;
 20. The carrying case of claim 13, wherein said carrying case has a clip on the outside top of the case comprised to attach to a carabiner-type clip or other. 